Alexandre Carrier helped the Canadiens win in Toronto last night, but the scene in the stands might sting the Leafs even more.
After Montreal's third goal, a noticeable number of fans at Scotiabank Arena got up and started heading for the exits.
It was a two-goal game with plenty of clock left. Nobody had put this one away.
One post summed up the frustration: "There were still seven big minutes left in a tight 3-1 game… This was nowhere near a blowout."
So what exactly were those fans racing to beat? Traffic on the Gardiner doesn't explain it.
A late two-goal lead is fragile in this league. One power play, one pulled goalie, and a building can flip in a hurry.
Alexandre Carrier's goal hands the Canadiens a statement win in Toronto
Carrier gave Montreal a goal that mattered, a key piece of a night where the Canadiens kept pushing until the Leafs cracked.
For a Quebec-born defenceman, scoring in Toronto during the first week of the season carries a little extra flavour back home.
Leaving early was a bad look. Fans paying Scotiabank Arena prices should at least stick around long enough to see if their team pushes back.
It's like walking out of a movie because the hero is down in the second-last scene. The ending hasn't happened yet.
The players on the ice were still chasing the game. Empty seats behind the bench send a message nobody in blue wants to hear.
Martin St-Louis leaves town with a win over the biggest rival on his schedule. It wasn't a clean night, but it sets a positive tone early.
The evening also ended with Canadiens players swarming John Tavares at the horn after he went into Jakub Dobes' crease. The Leafs had a rough night on and off the ice.
Toronto hosts the Islanders tonight. The real question is whether the fans who left early bother to show up for puck drop.
Were Leafs fans wrong to leave Scotiabank Arena with Montreal up 3-1?
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